Dear Jake,
As much as your mother and I tease you about not wanting you to turn 10, it feels like a natural step for you. You've seemed to grow up in so many ways this year, whilst retaining your innocence (toilet humor is still the funniest thing for you and Sophie!) and ability to be a goofball kid (see how you still find it funny to drop things on my head from the upstairs balcony some times). Both of us work with 10 year olds who are desperate to be teenagers, but you're very happy being 10. We see parts of this growing up as you listen to our conversations and join, asking what we're talking about forming your own opinions, as well as noticing how you take more responsibility in your life. Watching you run through your morning routine, work out how to put your bands on your braces and think critically about how to spend the money that comes into your possession tells me that you're taking those steps towards maturity, and it's delightful as a parent to watch.
You have a solid group of friends around you, and it was wonderful to host your birthday party at Hilltop Fun Center yesterday so you could disappear and play laser tag and go karting to your heart's content. You have your crew of Jack, Judah, Willy, Brody, Brandon and Michael, and you're a good group of friends to each other. There was a lot of lovely text messages after your party where Jack's mom said that you're exactly the kind of friend that they wished for Jack, and I can see why. You're calm with a wicked goofy streak, respectful but able to tease and torment when you know it's safe to do so (your insistence that you'll cut me out of any lottery tickets wins is now an ongoing family joke!) and responsible with the ability to take sensible risks. You've started doing sleepovers at Michael's house, and you're apparently one of the only kids who managed to stay the night on the first try. I think this is down to your confidence and that not much phases you.
This has been a good year for your self-confidence. I think part of it is that change that all 4th graders seem to go through during the year, and while there's some things I'd change about your schooling (the addiction to homework and spelling, and some of the things your teacher says), I'd overall say that Mrs Garland has been a good influence on you. You've grown in confidence in skiing, easily outstripping us in terms of your skill level. While it was fun to go on green mountain with you and Brandon, I loved the days when you'd disappear with Brandon's friends and a walkie talkie for hours, and I can't wait to get on the mountain again with you.
You have belief in your own ability in math, and while you can still get frustrated to the point of tears, I see you calming down quicker and more able to move on from them. This skill has definitely been honed by the Nintendo Switch, which was a big gamble on our part. However, our concerns that you'd become a one dimensional kid only able to talk about his video games is unfounded, and actually something really positive has come through. When asked how you'd like to spend your birthday money, you chose an extra controller, soccer leg straps and an Olympics game all with the intention of having everyone play together. You get Sophie involved, and even Mamma will play bowling with us more often that not. The Switch has become a unifying power in your hands, and while there are times that you'll get lost in your games, you've also got a plan of how to allow everyone to enjoy it.
I can't talk about this last year without talking about soccer. I had a lot of fun being your soccer coach in the fall, and we forged a great team with the Tigers. I was even able to teach you about the English fear of penalties (after we watched just about every game at Euro 2020!), and you enjoyed the irony of getting knocked out of a tournament that way. When it came to spring sports sign ups, you chose soccer even though all of your friends play baseball or lacrosse. We go to Rochester to play where you knew no-one, but you're confident enough to make friends easily now. You're also one of the 3 best players on the team, and it's been a really positive experience for you. You are more willing to run with the ball, go past players, get the ball back and shoot on goal, even getting your first goal in a game yesterday (must have been the birthday adrenaline!). I'm not sad to admit that I love that you're falling in love with the beautiful game as it will serve as a permanent connection for us in years to come, both on the field and in the stands.
As always, I can't wait to see what this year brings. You're currently knee deep in Pokemon cards, Nintendo Switch games and soccer, all of which bring you joy. You've still got that lovely sense of humor, used more often than not to tell puns and to torture me or Momma, and you'll still ask "Dadda can I tell you something" when you're ready to share what excitement has happened. 5th grade brings a new set of challenges, as well as opportunities (the school soccer team and being able to take the bus home by yourself for example) and I can't wait to see how you handle them.
Despite being 10, you're yelling at me from upstairs to come "tuck you in" which means a tickle fight, setting the alarm by whacking your cheeks and booping your nose, and generally wrestling with you until you laugh so hard. It's still one of my favorite parts of the day and long it may in continue.
Love you
Dadda
